Stormy Night

Bear and his stuffed rabbit Floppy, introduced in the emotionally nuanced Found, are dealing with a very dark and stormy night: “The wind was whirring, the trees were crackling, and the rain was pounding against the windows.” Bear sings Floppy a sweet song, regaining some courage as he offers comfort. Then Mama and Papa appear, equally discombobulated by the storm (in fact, at their request, Bear’s bed becomes a one-night-only family bed), and are put at ease by their loving son. How did Bear get to be so good at making other people feel better? Readers soon see that his parents were excellent role models. Yoon’s bright colors and big shapes make this scary storm story feel thoroughly cozy, and readers will be tickled to see Bear adeptly comfort his panicky parents. But a sentimental tone, combined with a flashback to Bear as a baby in diapers, makes the complex hero of the first book feel more generic this time around. Ages 3–6. Agent: Jamie Weiss Chilton, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (Jan.)